Evolution of semiconductors

Abstract

Semiconductor devices have now entered the VLSI age and have found a wide range of applications in fields quite different from those of traditional electronics. This has meant that production has had to increase continuously to match consumption. The increase in applications has been due to the dramatic improvement in integration density, performance, reliability and cost reduction. The production of devices having a given integration density exhibits a so-called silicon cycle of approximately three or four years as a result of the introduction of new higher density products with better performance at reduced costs. Semiconductors show every sign they will continue to develop as a typical high-tech industry. In this chapter the history and perspective of semiconductor technology is explained.